Radio Tax

A parliamentary committee has recommended imposition of 2% Radio Tax on every recharge of the mobile phones and Rs. 30,000 to 40,000 on the purchase of new cars.  It will make the PBC self reliant and stand on its own feet, says the committee.  What a self reliance, one wonders, if it has to come through such an enforced indirect taxation on the hapless people of this country?  Who in any case in this age of cable and a horde of TV channels listens to the Radio Pakistan even on their car radios where a plethora of FM channels with much more entertaining programmes are readily available?  PTV is also similarly charging compulsorily all electricity consumers billions every month and yet cannot compete with the private TV channels in the quality of the programmes offered by it. Should the government not make the PIA, WAPDA, Pakistan Railways and the Steel Mills also self reliant by incorporating similar taxes on, say, every litre of fuel and every ounce of S ugar, vegetable oil, and atta.? And, if by any chance or accident the rulers and the legislators also wish to improve the self-reliance of these and other such government run organizations, they could contribute a Rupee One per head per year also?

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)